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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. E. RIGHARDS.,

ELEGTRIO TIME DETECTOR. No. 258,603. Patented May 30,1882

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(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

' J. E. RICHARDS.

ELECTRIC TIME DETECTOR.

No. 258,603. Patented May 30, 1882.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4. J. E. RICHARDS.

ELECTRIC TIME DETECTOR.

No. 258,603. /0 latented May 30,1882.

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U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. RICHARDS, OF CEDAR KEYS, FLORIDA.

ELECTRIC TIM E-DETECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,603, dated May 30,1852.

Application filed October 20, 1881 To all whom 'it may concern Be itknown that I, JAMES E. RICHARDS, of Cedar Keys, State of Florida, haveinvented a new and useful Electric WVatchmans Time-Detector, of whichthe followingisa full, clear, and exact description, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows aperspective of the auto matic make and break circuit apparatus andadjacent parts. Fig.2 shows a perspective of one of the dial-operatingstations, including the stationbell. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectionof the tipping lever and adjacent parts. Fig. 4 shows a front view ofone of the station paper dials. Fig. 5 shows a metallic circuit with theentire apparatus on it. Fig.6 shows a ground circuit which brings intoaction a local metallic circuit.

Prior to my invention watchmens time-dc teeters have been so constructedand operated that it has been possible for an unscrupulous watchman toso manipulate his detector that it would show a proper register, and yethe be neglectful of his duties.

My invention obviates the defects in detect ors heretofore used, and isas follows: In Fig. l of the drawings A shows ametallic wheel, mountedon a metallic shaft, I), which is supported upon and revolves injournals on the top oftwo upright metallic posts, 0 0. One end of theshaft 1) extends beyond its supporting-post C, and by means of clockworkor any other suitable power applied to this end of the shaft it iscaused to revolve, carrying the wheel A with it once in every twelvehours. The clock-work is shown in this instance as attached to the post0, and is an ordinary duplex marine movement; but the kind of clock-workused, or the kind of power,whatever it may be, that should be employedto effect the revolution of the shaft and wheel is en-' tirelyimmaterial, provided it be sufficiently powerful to operate the wheeland rotate it regularly one revolutionin every twelve hours, for thepurposes hereinafter setforth. I prefer to insulate the clock-work fromthe metallic shaft b by int-erposing some suitable insulating materialbetween the arbor of the clock-work and the shaft. The wheel is set andtime is reckoned from the end h of the tipping lever, hereinafterdescribed, and for convenience a pointer designating the time may beapplied to the end h of the lever. On or near the periphery of thiswheel, as seen at (l d, is provided a circumferential dial, on the faceof which the twelve hours are designated in figures of any kind from 1to 12, as is an ordinary clock-dial, and the half and quarter hours alsoare designated by lines not necessarily numbered, as is shown in thedrawings.

In a circumferential groove running entirely around the periphery of thewheel A, and di- Ieetly opposite the hour, half-hour, and quarter-hourmarks onthis dial, and, if desired, opposite the marks designating theother fractional parts of the hour, I place a series of teeth or points,(shown at E E E.) These teeth or points, as shown in the drawings, arenot rigidly fixed in the groove, but are pivoted at their inner end, sothat they may be, by the application of a little force, tilted forward,as shown at E E, until, moving on their pivot, their exposed ends swingdownward and toward the center of the wheel until they recede so farinto the groove that they are flush with the external periphery of thewheel, as seen at E E. In order that these teeth or points shall not, bygravity, as the wheel revolves, or because of jars, move from anyposition in which they may be placed, 1 apply sufficient. fiiction tothem, by means of small springs applied in any of the well-known ways,so that they shall be pressed against one of the sides of the groove, orelse move under friction applied to their ends near the piv0t,and thusaccomplish this result. A stop is provided for each ofthcse teeth,(shown by pinsfff,) spanning the groove, so that when the teeth are intheir most projecting position they will impinge upon the stop ff, andcannot be farther thrown over backward. g is a metallic post, on the topof which is pivoted by a metallic pin a metallic tipping lever, h. (Seenin cross-section in Fig.3. This lever is pivoted nearer the end h, whichis adjacent to the wheel A, than to its other end, It, so that gravitywill tend always to cause the end h to drop. end h of this lever Ifasten a piece of hard rubber or other insulating material, as seen att, Fig. 3. The extremity of the end lb of the lever extends beyond thisinsulating-plate a short distance, for the purposes hereinafter setforth.

Near the It is from this end h of this tipping lever that the time ofthe wheel A is reckoned, as before stated.

The post 9 is situated on the base of the apparatus in a line with theplane of the wheel A, and the tipping lever on it is so adjusted thatthe teeth or points in the peripheryot the wheel will, when they are intheir projecting position, as the wheel revolves strike against theinsulating-plate i and depress the end it of the lever, and, as thewheel continues to revolve, the lever will be more and more depresseduntil the tooth in contact with the insulating-plate ships off from itonto the slight ly-projecting metallic end 71/ of the lever, thusefi'ecting metallic contact between the wheel and the lever.

j is a metallic post directly behind the post 9 and in a line with theplane of the wheel, and upon the top of this post j the end h of thelever it normally rests by the action of gravity, so that when the leveris not tilted by the teeth of the wheel there is metallic contact between the lever h and the post j.

70 7: 70 Fig. 1, show three ordinary bindingp0sts,the purposes of whichwill be hereinafter explained.

Fig. 2 of the drawings shows devices sub stantially identical with thewell-known telegraphic sounder. Z is the support for the pivoted end ofthe armature-lever. m is the armature-lever. n n are theelectro-magnets, and 0 0 are the usual adjusting-screws. I at tach oneend of the series of levers p pp to the armature-lever m at the end atthereof. This series of levers, when the armature-lever is attracted bythe electro-magnets, which occurs whenever a currentof electricity ispassed through them, receive motion from the armature-lever on andtransmit it to the ratchetwheel q for the revolution of the dial, ashere inat'ter set forth,and I provideaspring (shown as a spiral spring,1*, in the drawings,although it may be of any kind, or a weight may beused) for the retraction of the armature lever when the current ceasesand the armature-lever is no longer attracted by the electro-magnets, sothat the pawl s will be brought back into proper position for engagementwith the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel. This spring may be applied toany suitable part of this mechanism.

The levers p p 1) connect the end at of the armature-lever with the pawls, which engages with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel g. Thisratchet-wheel is rigidly fixed upon the shaft V, which shaft issupported upon and revolves injournals on posts, as shown in thedrawings. Upon the projecting end V otthis shaft is placed and rigidlyfixed a disk, of wood or metal, for the support of the paper registering-dial, which paper registering-dial, as shown in Fig. 4, has upon itst'ace'an equal number of radially-arranged black and white spaces, whichspaces are equal in shape and size, and alternate black and whiteentirely around the dial, there being in this instance, as the drawingsshow, eighteen of the white and eighteen ot' the black spaces, althoughany desired number may be employed, depending upon the number of teethin the ratchet-wheel q, and it the number of teeth be decreased thelevers 1) pp must be so adjusted as to increase the movement of thepawl, and vice versa, unless the diameter of the ratchet-wheel bevaried. The number of teeth and the total number of spaces on the dialmust correspond. The paper dial has a hole punched in its center and isplaced on the end of the shat't V, and is fastened firmly in itsposition by the usual washer, screw, and nut. The end of the shaft ismade sufliciently long to accommodate the dial-support, the dial itself,the washer, and the nut, and is threaded, so that the nut may be screwedup to its place, and also, if desired, thedial-support and washer mayalso screw on.

Attached to the series of lovers, as seen at p, is a projecting arm,having a tooth formed upon its extremity. This tooth is so adjustedrelative to the pawl, the ratchet-wheel, and the series of levers thatit engages in asquare-cut notch cut on the back side of each of theteeth of the ratchet-wheel as soon as, but not before, the pawl haselfectcd a movement of the ratchet-wheel to the extent of one tooth.Thus this arm, catching in the notch at'oresaid,prevents the momentum ofthe dial-supporting plate and paper'dial from carrying the ratchet-wheelaround or over more than one tooth, or, in other words, farther than thepawl has pushed it. i

00.1; are two ordinary binding-posts for convenience of fasteningconducting-wires, and are connected with the electro-magnets in theusual way.

The number 1 in Fig. 2 shows the case inclosing the electro-magnets ofthe hell. 2 is the gong, and 3 the hammer. 4 and 5 are two ordinarybinding-posts for attachment of the conducting-wires, and are connectedwith the magnets, as usual. This dial-revolving apparatus and the hellare inclosed in a wood or metal box, as seen at w w, and through the lidof the box a slot is cut, (seen at w,) which, when the lid is closed,comes directly opposite and exposes to view one of the radially-arrangedblack or white spaces on the paper dial.

lare must be taken that the paper dial is placed on the dial-support insuch position that the black and white spaces will come opposite to theslit in the lid of the box. Properly-located marks on both the dialsupporting plate and the dial itself will assist in properly placing thedial in its position. The lid of this box is securely locked, and thewatchman has not access to it.

The operation ofthis apparatus is as follows: The automatic make andbreak circuit apparatus and adjacent parts, as shown in Fig. 1, areplaced in a securely-locked box, vault, or

closet in the otiice of or elsewhere upon the property to be guarded andwhich the watch man can neither see nor obtain access to, and the lockedboxes containing the dial-operating apparatus and bell, as heretoforeset forth, are placed wherever desired throughout the property in thewatchmans charge.

An ordinary Leclanch or other suitable galvanic battery of a sufiieientnumber of cups to furnish the necessary current to operate the severalstation dials and bells on the circuit is placed in any convenientlocation. A circuit is then made by means of suitable wires from onepole of the battery to and through the coils of the electrom agnets usedto actuate the dial-operating apparatus and the bells of all thestations, (all of the electro-magnets on the circuit should be of thesame resistance,) and, returning, enters the binding-post k of theautomatic make and break circuit apparatus shown in Fig. 1, whichbinding-post is in metal contact by wire beneath the base with thewheel-supporting metallic post 0, which by means of the shaft 1) andwheel A is in metal contact with the teeth or points E,"E, and E. Thecircuit is broken at this wheel so long as none of these teeth or pointsare in contact with the metal of the tipping lever h; but when by theaction of the clock-work the revolving wheel a brings one of theprojecting teeth or points E E into contact with the metal of the leverh, as hereinbefore set forth, then the metallic circuit is completedthrough the tipping lever h and the metallic post 9, to which this leveris pivoted by means of a continuation of the line-wire from the post 9beneath the base to the binding-post K, and thence to the other pole ofthe battery; and when the revolving wheel A carries the tooth which isin contact with the metal of the lever It so far that the lever isreleased, then the circuit is broken, and this making and breaking ofthe circuit takes place every time a projecting tooth or point comes incontact with the metal of the lever h or releases it, and at eachcompletion of the circuit the dials at each of the stations revolve onespace, black or white, as the case may be, by the action of the pawl ofthe ratchet-wheel, as hereinbefore explained; also, the bell at eachstation will ring at each completion of the circuit.

The apparatus having been described, its practical operation is asfollows: The person having access to the box in which the automatic makeand break circuit wheel is placedas, for instance, thesuperintendentwill determine the time during the coming night at whichhe desires the watchman to make his rounds, and he then turns out intotheir most projecting position from the periphery of the wheel such ofthe teeth or points E E E as are opposite the hours or parts thereof, asindicated by the circumferential dial, at which he desires the watchmanto make his rounds, and to record the exact time of making them and hisname by writing the same upon the white space on the dials at each ofthe several station-boxes, one of which white spaces, as

hereinafter described, the watchman will find exposed atthe slot in thelids of the stationboxes. This duty is required of the watchman wheneverhe hears the station-bells ring. The superintendent then, havingpreviously ascertained the time required by the watchman to make hisrounds, also turns out into their most projecting position such of theother teeth or points behind the teeth or points previously turned outas the circumferential dial of the wheel indicates will, after the lapseof the time allowed the watchman, in their turn be brought into metalcontact with the tipping lever h, and when this takes place, the circuitbeing again completed, as before stated, the white spaces of the paperdials at all the station-boxes will disappear from the slot in thelidsand black spaces will appear. The wheel being new set at the times atwhich the superintendent desires the watchman to make his rounds, andalso so set as to compel him to perform this duty within the reasonabletime allowed him, and the watchman being igno-' rant of the times whenhe may be summoned to make his rounds, and knowing that when summoned hemust make them in the time allowed him, will fear to go out of hearingof the station-bells or to fall asleep, or otherwise neglect his dutyeven for a moment, and, moreover, he cannot substitute any other personin his place, as the handwriting on the dials the next morning willexpose the substitution, and the absence of all signature will indicateneglect on the watchmans part. The dials are compared each morning withthe position of the teeth of the wheel, and new dials are applied eachday.

The combinations on which the teeth or points of the automatic make andbreak circuit wheel can be set may be almost infinitely varied, so thatthe watchman will not be called two nights alike in a year.

If desired, the automatic make and break circuit wheel and its adjacentparts and battery may be placed at a distance from the property to beguarded--as, for instance, the residence of the proprietor orsuperintendent, and, as in this instance (especially if the distance besuch as to make it desirable) a single wire only running between thehouse and the property had best be used and the circuit completedthrough the earth by means of the ordinary ground-wires at each end ofthe line, I put into one of the station-boxes at the property anordinary telegraphic relay, through the coils of which the current fromthe house passes, and thence to the ground. Thus the armature of therelay in a manner well known closes a local circuit upon which all thedialoperating apparatus and bells and a local battery are placed. Thusonly sufficient batterypower is needed at the house where the automaticmake and break circuit wheel is placed to operate this relay. Instead ofthis singlewire circuit for operating the relay being a ground-circuit,it may be a metallic circuit.

Ito

In order that the watchman may notify the occupants of the house wherethe make and break circuit wheel is placed, if fire or any other troubleoccurs at the property, I enable him so to do by means of adouble-contact button (seen at 6, Fig. 6) placed in the main line and atany convenient place at the property. In this drawing the figure 7 showsthe automatic make and break circuit wheel and its adjacent parts, andthe line-battery located at the house, and also an ordinary electricbell, 14, either single strokes or vibrating, which is also placed atthe house, and the figure 8 shows the dialstations (only three areshown) and the local battery placed at the property, and also the doublecontact button 6, before mentioned. When any trouble arises, or when forany reason whatever the watchman desires to call up the house, hedepresses the end of the lever 9 of the double-contact button, therebycutting out the portion of the main line and relay seen at 10 10 10 andmaking contact through the wire 11 1111 withone pole of the localbattery, the other pole being connected with the ground,as shown by wire12. The lever, when so depressed, sends a current from the local batterythrough the line-wire to the bindingpost 70, Figs. 1 and 3; thence bywire beneath the base to the post g,- thence, when the tipping lever his in its normal position--t0 wit, resting on the metal postjthrough thelever 71. and the postjand the wire beneath the base, connecting thepostj with the binding-postk and thence by the wire 13 to and throughthe electro-magnets of the alarm -bell l4, and thence by wire 15 to theground, thus completing the circuit and ringing the bell.

One of the reasons for placing the insulating-plate i on the end h ofthe tipping lever his so that when therevolving wheel Abrings aprojecting point or tooth, E, down upon the lever h the tooth may firsttouch the insulatv ing material i and the lever he depressed,thus

breaking contact with the post j, the electric bell 14, and the groundbefore metal contact is established between the tooth E and the lever h,thus diverting the current from the bell l4 and sending it through themain line to the relay at the property.

Another function performed by the insulating-plate i on the lever h isthat by its use I am enabled to make good and instant metallic contactbetween the teeth E E of the wheel A and the lever Ii, and in order todo this I undercut the insulating-plate i, as seen at i, Fig. 3, and Ialso undercut the end of the le ver that the tooth may leaveit promptly,and I bevel off the upper side of the teeth E E E.

Thus when the tooth reaches the extreme point iof the plate and ceasesto bear on the plate, then the end h of the lever, which projectsslightly beyond the insulating-plate, instantly, by the force ofgravity, ascends, and, touching the-tooth, efi'ects good and instantmetal contact with it. The adjustment of the lever 76 must be such thatwhen the tooth leaves the insulating plate the lever, will be caughtagain by the tooth before its end h comes in contact with the post j,and the adjustment must also be such that there will be no rebound ofthe lever from the tooth. The length of time that the teeth of the wheelA will remain in contact with the metal of the lever h at its end k maybe regulated by placing the insulating-plate i at a greater or lessdistance from the end h, and also by adjusting the lever itself at agreater or less distance from the wheel.

Instead of the several parts of theioregoing apparatus being made ofmetal, they may, if preferred, be made of a non-conducting material,provided metal contact be secured through them by wires or otherwise,and, instead of teeth E E of the wheel A, removable pegs, to be insertedin holes in or near the periphery of the wheel, may be used, and it isnot essential that this part of the apparatus should be in the form of awheel, since a horizontally or vertically moving bar or plate providedwith suitable points to engage with the tipping bar It may be used; and,in fact, this part of the apparatus may be made in a number of ways andstill perform the function of my revolving wheel A.

I do not limit myself to the specific construction of the devices aboveset forth, as other devices can readily be substituted for them ofdifferent construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination of a battery, acontinuously-moving make and break circuit device so constructed thatthe times when the circuit will be made and broken may be varied atwill, and one or more locked station-boxes,through a slot in the lid ofwhich the dial may be seen, and in each of which is the followingapparatus-21 0., electro-magnets provided with the usual armature andfittings, a lever connecting the lever of the armature with mechanismfor revolving a dial, and a bell, all combined and operatingsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of a battery, a continuously-moving make and breakcircuit device so constructed that-the times when the circuit will bemade and broken may be varied at will, and one or more station-boxes, ineach of which is the following apparatusi. 0., electro-magnets providedwith the usual armature and fittings, a dial caused to rotate at statedtimes by the movement of the armature, upon which dial the watchman mayregister his rounds, and a bell, all combined and operatingsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of an automatic make and break circuit apparatus onan electric circuit and one or more station-boxes, in each of which isthe following apparatus-4. 0., electro-magnets provided with the usualarmature and fittings, a shaft upon which is a dial, which shaft iscaused to rotate at stated times by the movement of the armature-lever,and upon which dial the watchman can register his rounds, and a bell,the said station-boxes being placed on a local circuit, the relay ofwhich is actuated by the current sent through another circuit by theautomatic make and break circuit apparatus.

4. The combination of the wheel A, provided with the teeth E, thetipping lever it, having on one end thereof theinsulating-plate i, andone or more station-boxes containing electromagnets provided with theusual armature and fittings, and a movable dial operated by the movementof the armature-1ever,a1l combined substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

5. The tipping lever h, having on one end thereof the insulating-platei, placed near the end thereof, and an automatically-moving metallicsurface, portions of which at stated times come in contact with, first,the insulating-plate, and, secondly, the metal of the tipping lever, allcombined and arranged to give good and instant contact between the metalsurfaces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, in an electric time-detector, of an automatic makeand break circuit apparatus provided with its battery, alarm, anddial-registering devices at one or more station-boxes, a double-contactbutton placed in the main line, and an alarm-bell, the bell beingoperated by a current from a separate battery passing through thedouble-contact button, all combined and arranged substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

JAMES EDGAR RICHARDS. Witnesses:

BEM. T. VETTERLEIN, W. L. BENNEM.

